Vandals in Southern California are waging a war against electric scooters.

The two-wheeled devices, which the public can rent by distance travelled, popped up in Los Angeles and the surrounding area last year as a cheap and environmentally-friendly way to navigate traffic.

People scan a QR code with an application to rent Bird scooters in Santa Monica, Calif., on July 1, 2018.Richard Vogel /
AP Photo

But there’s a growing backlash from some residents as the number of scooters has overrun city sidewalks and boardwalks. Hooligans have smeared them with feces, set them on fire, and thrown them off balconies

“They throw them everywhere: in the ocean, in the sand, in the trash can,” Robert Johnson Bey, a Venice Beach maintenance worker, told the Los Angeles Times.

“Sunday I was finding kickstands everywhere. Looked like they were snapped off.”

The dockless devices, made by Bird in Santa Monica and the San Mateo-based Lime, can be left anywhere once the person is finished their ride.

And that has made them easy prey for vandals, some of whom have documented the destruction on social media.

One person who helps run the Instagram account Bird Graveyard told the paper he receives more than 100 videos and images of damaged scooters each day and only features the most outrageous submissions.

With the rash of ravaged scooters being documented, a Bird spokesperson encouraged people to report any damage.

“We do not support the vandalism or destruction of any property and are disappointed when it takes place,” Mackenzie Long said in a statement to the Times. “Nor do we support the encouragement, celebration or normalization of this behaviour.”

Local police have received very few reports of damaged scooters, but cops out on patrol have come across them in large piles.

“If we have to prioritize the allocation of our time and resources, first and foremost we’re going to prioritize the preservation of life,” Los Angeles Police Lt. Michael Soliman said. “Protection of property comes second.”